Children's

– Infrastructure Ontario and Hamilton Health Sciences announced today that PCL Partnerships is the preferred proponent selected to design, build and finance the new McMaster Children’s Health Centre.

The selection of PCL Partnerships as the preferred bidder is the result of an open, fair and competitive procurement process overseen by a third party fairness advisor, and included extensive evaluations of the three submitted bids. The team includes:

• PCL – Constructor

• TD Securities – Financial Advisor

• Stantec Architecture Limited – Architect

The new children’s centre will be constructed on Wellington Street across from Hamilton Health Sciences’ Regional Rehabilitation Centre. It will be fully accessible and will include an outdoor wheeling track, a therapeutic playground and physiotherapy space. The new site will bring together a number of programs that are currently located at Hamilton Health Sciences’ Chedoke site, including:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder Service

• Child and Youth Mental Health Program

• Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation Program

• Prosthetics and Orthotics Service

Together, these programs will accommodate 70,000 visits annually. The new centre will provide the space to accommodate the delivery of patient and family-focused service and individualized programming.

Infrastructure Ontario and Hamilton Health Sciences will now begin negotiating contract details with the preferred bidder. The project is expected to reach commercial and financial close in spring 2014, which will mean that relevant contracts will have been signed and the project’s costs finalized. Project costs will be announced publicly following financial close and construction of the centre is expected to begin shortly thereafter.

The project is proceeding under Infrastructure Ontario’s alternative financing and procurement model, which transfers the risks associated with designing, constructing, and financing the facility to the private sector.

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services are working with Hamilton Health Sciences to build the new McMaster Children’s Health Centre, which will remain publicly owned and controlled.

Infrastructure Ontario is a crown agency of the Province of Ontario that delivers large, complex infrastructure renewal projects on time and on budget. Over the last six years, the province has applied Infrastructure Ontario’s alternative financing and procurement model to 83 major projects valued at approximately $38 billion, saving taxpayers an estimated $3 billion. Infrastructure Ontario also manages one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, provides municipalities and eligible public sector clients with financing to renew public infrastructure, and leverages its private-sector expertise to manage major commercial transactions on behalf of the province.

McMaster Children’s Hospital is one of Canada’s leading pediatric health care facilities and is the regional referral centre for children who are seriously ill, injured or require specialized services in South-Central Ontario.

Quotes:

Teresa Piruzza, Minister of Children and Youth Services

“This project is more than just bricks and mortar—it is about children and their families having access to more programs and services they need, close to home, and in suitable surroundings. Hamilton and surrounding communities will benefit from this project for generations to come.”

Ted McMeekin, MPP, Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale

“We are closer than ever to seeing construction begin at the McMaster Children’s Treatment Centre. Our government is ensuring young people and their loved ones have access to the specialized facilities and resources they need, when they need it.”

Rob MacIsaac, President and CEO Hamilton Health Sciences

“This is an important step forward in creating an innovative health centre for children that will set the standard for patient- and family-centred care.”

Dr. Peter Fitzgerald, President McMaster Children’s Hospital

“Our team has worked diligently to ensure this is more than a building. This will be an environment in which children and youth will find a place to be the best they can be. It will transform care in our community.”